The Vatican’s Secretary of State, underscored the Holy See and Japan’s shared commitment to curbing global arms proliferation at the Expo 2025.
Newsroom, June 30, 2025, – Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, underscored the Holy See and Japan’s shared commitment to curbing global arms proliferation during a speech at the Holy See Pavilion’s National Day event at Expo 2025 on Yumeshima Island, Osaka, on June 29.
Marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Parolin reflected on the tragedies that shaped Japan’s steadfast dedication to peace. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the tragic atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, an event that shaped the history of this country while also continuing to shape its enduring commitment to peace,” he said.
Despite cultural and religious differences, Parolin highlighted the long-standing mutual respect between the Holy See and Japan. He emphasized shared priorities in education, healthcare, and peace-building, with a particular focus on “limiting the uncontrolled proliferation of armaments.”
Yoshitaka Ito, Japan’s minister for Expo 2025, echoed Parolin’s sentiments, noting that shared values have defined bilateral relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1942. “Japan and the Vatican have developed together with shared values, including the promotion of peace, realization of a world free of nuclear weapons, and respect for human rights,” Ito said. He expressed hope that Parolin’s first visit to Japan in six years would further strengthen ties.
Parolin reciprocated, expressing gratitude to the Japanese people and praying for their prosperity and peace. He cited historic milestones in Vatican-Japan relations, including the 478th anniversary of the first papal audience granted to a Japanese Catholic in 1555, the 440th anniversary of the Tenshō Embassy’s visit to Pope Gregory XIII in 1585, and the 410th anniversary of the Keichō Embassy’s audience with Pope Paul V in 1615. “These early historical encounters mark the beginning of a relationship that has stood the test of time, and we hope it will continue to deepen in the future,” he said.
The Holy See Pavilion’s theme of “beauty and hope” was a focal point of Parolin’s address. “Beauty and hope are values we Catholics wish to share with the entire world, in the certainty that a better future can arise from them,” he said, resonating with attendees.
Nami Moto, 51, whose grandfather survived the Hiroshima bombing, found the cardinal’s message poignant. “The message is beauty and hope. It was essential for us, for all the people all over the world. It was a great message,” she told UCA News. “I have a lot of thoughts about the atomic bomb. It is difficult for me. I remember my grandfather.”
Diane Kitatani, a Filipino raised in Japan, felt a sense of nostalgia. “For someone so famous to talk about the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima is very important, especially for the Japanese people, and especially at this Expo,” she said.
The ceremony opened with the raising of the Vatican and Japanese flags and their national anthems, concluding with a concert led by Maestro Tomomi Nishimoto, the Holy See Pavilion’s ambassador at Expo 2025. Featuring 180 performers, including choirs from Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and Osaka, the program showcased Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C major, K. 317, performed by the IlluminArt Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus as a tribute to peace and reconciliation.
The Holy See Pavilion, located within the Italian Pavilion, features Caravaggio’s The Entombment of Christ, on loan from the Vatican Museums and displayed in Japan for the first time. The pavilion, the Holy See’s first dedicated space at a World Expo, attracts around 10,000 visitors daily, mostly non-Catholics.
On June 29, Parolin celebrated Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Osaka, attended by a diverse congregation of Filipino, Vietnamese, and Japanese Catholics. “I hope there will be world peace, like what the cardinal said in his message,” said Cristina Urata, 64.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News
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